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The Peace Corps and Love
Finding Miss Fong is the touching story of a young man determined to pursue his life’s dream of teaching biology and the sudden turn his life takes following a chance meeting with the beautiful and intriguing Miss Fong Moke Chee. Why was this an important book for you to write?
There are two major reasons I wrote Finding Miss Fong. First, I wanted our children and grandchildren and possible future generations to know how Moke Chee and I met, about our friendship turning into a romance and the obstacles we faced and the sacrifices Moke Chee made to marry me. Second, I wanted to record a first-person account of the Peace Corps at its inception for historians. The Peace Corps had never been done before. There was no roadmap on how to do the Peace Corps, so we made it up as we went along.
What is one pivotal moment in the story that you think best defines Jim?
The moment that defines my character is when I had to figure out a way to teach my Malay students Islam because they were facing a national exam on Islam. I engaged the community in the process and demonstrated I respected them, their beliefs, and their culture. I earned the name American Ustas (Islam Teacher) for my effort. On a personal level, a pivotal moment comes after Moke Chee and I marry, and as was the family custom, I knelt before Moke Chee’s Nanny, parents, grandmother and uncles and aunts while serving each of them tea and pledging my fidelity to Moke Chee, her parents, grandmother, and their customs.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
I want my readers to feel they have been treated to a journey with me back to Malaysia in the 1960s. I want them to experience Malaysia as I experienced it, and I want them to experience the range of my innermost feelings, failures, triumphs, and most of all I want them to experience falling in love with an exotic woman in an exotic land. I want them to feel good and happy knowing no obstacle in life is too great.
Can you tell us a little about what you are currently working on?
I am currently working on a collection of short stories featuring people I met in Malaysia. I’ve finished one called “Salamander Man” about a man unable to walk and unable to find a wife who finally finds love. Another, “The Amah and the Bus,” which is a story about me and an amah on a bus, and “Kidnapped,” a story of when two military officers accused me of being CIA and how I foiled their attempt to kidnap me. I’m currently working on “The Life of Lee Lye Ho,” who happens to be Nanny in Finding Miss Fong. Also in the works is “The Life of Lim Saw Chin,” Miss Fong’s mother, told from her asymmetric view of the world.
Author Links: GoodReads
Finding Miss Fong is the journey of a naïve twenty-two year old from the northwest side of Chicago trying to find his way in an unfamiliar world back in the early 1960s. As a biologist from a working-class background thrust into post-Colonial Malaya, he finds himself caught up in unexpected adventures while struggling with disillusionment in work and juggling entanglements in love.
Finding Miss Fong
Set against the vibrant backdrop of the 1960s in Malaya, now known as peninsular Malaysia, Finding Miss Fong is the journey of Jim Wolter, a character pulsating with life-changing aspirations and determination.
The novel begins with Wolter abandoning medical school and the insistent matrimonial arrangements by his mother, who wishes for him to marry Lolly. Instead, Wolter’s soul yearns for an adventure that promises to be fulfilling, a journey where he can make a tangible impact by teaching biology in the remote areas of Malaya. However, his high expectations are met with a harsh reality. Wolter’s noble pursuit is thwarted by his unscrupulous boss, pushing him to the brink of despair and driving him to contemplate a return to Chicago.
But Malaya has other plans for Wolter. Enter Miss Fong Moke Chee, a figure who becomes a catalyst in Wolter’s life, inspiring him to embrace the challenges and discover love amidst his trials.
Finding Miss Fong is not merely a love story. It is a multidimensional narrative exploring a young American’s passion for teaching biology, all while achieving a balance between an oppressive work environment and a burgeoning love affair that tests his mettle. The author’s storytelling prowess shines throughout the book, enveloping the reader in the world of the characters, making one feel as though they are a confidante of Wolter’s.
One of the novel’s crowning achievements is its fluid narration, which escorts the reader through varying incidents from Wolter’s perspective. This narrative choice enhances the reader’s engagement and comprehension of the story. Moreover, the author vividly depicts the Malayan setting, immersing Wolter and, by extension, the reader, in the local culture through casual dates with Miss Fong, luncheons and teatime with the local aunties, and even spine-chilling ghost stories.
Finding Miss Fong is as much about the exploration of young love and its accompanying hardships as it is about the thrill of adventure and the richness of emotional bonding. The protagonist’s relationship with Moke Chee becomes a beacon of joy in a place that otherwise fails to recognize his commitment and sacrifices. His love for her leads him down a path filled with challenges, and yet the novel’s conclusion underscores that the essence of the novel, and Wolter’s journey, are both well worth the reader’s investment.
Eloquent and deeply moving, Finding Miss Fong is a poignant tale that resonates with both the heart and mind. Its textured characters and atmospheric storytelling make it a compelling read, painting a vivid picture of love, ambition, and resilience in a time and place that come alive within its pages.
Pages: 382 | ISBN : 978-1639889730
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